I also remember Darkness Descends wasn't really given much attention, it was just another thrash album, that album or maybe the one after it was marketed as having over 200 riffs or something (personally I don't think DD is nessesarily more extreme than Reign, it's just got a heavier sound while Slayer had Andy Wallace mixing their albums to sound slightly cleaner.)

Post 1990 Slayer is much more interesting than your average metal band?

I'm not sure if that means your record collection is seriously lacking or rock solid.[/quote]

Well... that's a more difficult analysis.

In general, I think their post-1990 stuff is still more interesting than your average metal band, which is said as a counterpoint to their 1983-1990 stuff being totally amazing.

But in general, I am an old school "elitist." I like the high quality stuff and tend to pitch the rest out. It means my record collection is not filled with rarities per se, but is well-loved and regularly played.

I also like this as it enables me to select influences on myself from the best of what I have encountered.

I have pitched out whole genres in the past as well. There's almost no rock in the collection, no jazz, no postmodern classical, and no techno._________________DEATH METAL UNDERGROUND

I return to it and realize how Slayer was heading in an atmospheric direction before anyone else. In many ways, the history of all underground music occurred in microcosm with Slayer._________________DEATH METAL UNDERGROUND

depends on the mood- but its usually a tie between Show no Mercy and Seasons in the Abyss

.. then South of heaven

also, I feel as if I have to share this wonderful video;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oQQPRGsPqg (0:14)
'Mr.Born to Loose' of Victimizer pointing out (on TV no less) that people who don't like slayer should be put to death_________________